Reach Serizawa is a pure-hearted 25-year-old man who is always afraid of taking the risks and big steps necessary to "reach" his goal. Although his dream is to become a film director, he ends up taking a job at an average company just like his friends.

Isaki Makino is a stylish 31-year-old clothing store owner. She is very outspoken and says whatever is on her mind. But when it comes to a man she likes, she becomes aloof and calculating, which prevents her from expressing her real feelings.

Mino Koike is a 24-year-old woman who works at Isaki's shop. She is seen as a very simple innocent girl, but actually, she always knows what's going on around her. Although Mino is enjoying her romantic life just like other girls in their 20's, she is looking for her prince.

Eisuke Serizawa is Reach's 32-year-old brother. He is an elite business man who graduated from a prestigious university and now works at a major bank. Good-looking, smart, and mature, he is the kind of man Reach wants to become. From time to time, Eisuke has influenced Reach in critical periods of his life.

!!WARNING!!The review section may contain spoilers! Please understandthat you may find out about this drama's endings and plots!

1.

Take it Slow [Rating: 10/10]Riichi (Tsubabuki) has lost his motivation at 25 years old. He made an excellent and well-regarded movie when he was about to graduate from college. But directly after, he broke up with the girl he made the movie for, and for the past three years, he hasn't done any significant work towards making a new film. He's just passing the time as a driving instructor for one of the many Japanese driving schools. It's then that he meets 31-year-old Isaki (Fukatsu) who is trying to get her license. Although it takes them time to realize it, this isn't the first time they've met.

In some cases, a title has no relation to the content of the series, but in this case, the title is perfectly appropriate. Slow Dance's pacing is leisurely and it's plot winds around like a dance -- but it is never dull. The script is both sweet and funny, the acting is first rate, and the ending is one of the better dorama endings I've seen.

The secondary characters are well fleshed out and well acted. Hirosue especially takes on her role with a acting style that is reminiscent of Inamori Izumi's portrayal of Momo from Long Vacation, and does it convincingly. Fujiki plays much the same easy-going babe-magnet that he usually does, but adds a nuance to the part which makes one realize why his character can't seem to refuse the advances of pretty girls. One can also sympathize with the background characters such as Kohei (Tanaka) the anime otaku with a massive crush on Mino (Hirosue). The only less-than-stellar performance comes from the Ayumi character (Kobayashi) who, while not dragging the her scenes down, doesn't pull up to the performances of the rest of the cast.

Yes, Long Vacation was a better romantic comedy than Slow Dance, but only by a little. Slow Dance hits all the right notes at the right times to make it one of the best romantic comedies of this decade. If it hadn't been for the very creative adaptation of a massive best-seller (Densha Otoko), Slow Dance would have owned the Summer of 2005.

Waltzing through Life [Rating: 10/10]So I find myself entranced by this deceptively simple series, with the sort of anticipation that one reserved for sunsets and snowfall, and at the end coming out of it touched.

Much comparison has been made about it with Long Vacation - the development of love between a older woman and a younger man. Personally I felt that Slow Dance is a better show, perhaps it's because of the overall feel of the show, much like its title a slow dance through the lives of show's protagonists. This set the entire mood of the show as the story take its time to develope and build on till it is inevitable that you feel for the people in it.

The acting here is mostly top-notch even with the supporting cast. Eri Fukatsu was spot on as the vulnerable but optimistic lady who seek to goes through life her own way. Her chemistry with the young and talented Satoshi was really good and you can't help but wish fervently they are together at the end of the show. Of course it helps that they and the rest of the cast are so beautiful:)

Many of the show's scene is set at the driving school where Satoshi is working at, and revolves around Fukatsu' character (Isaki) trying to get her driving license. There seems to be a metaphor hidden her as a Satoshi is always emphazing to his student o be careful and press the brakes often while Isaki-san always tend to forget to brake and drive headlong ahead. Seems like a pretty accurate reflection of their attitude towards life. Lol i really like shows that have such hidden details in it

Note. I really like the underlying theme that tied the show together, about chasing ones dreams and that life is one big meandering road, and it might take a while before you found what you want. Of course for those who can't stand slow-paced drama, this might not be the one for you tho

Looking for a cure for insomnia? Look no further [Rating: 3/10]Slow dance? More like a slow crawl. I practically had to drag my way through the first half of this drama. The second half got interesting, but not by much. Though Fukatsu Eri is her usual likeable self in this drama, not even she could save it. I wasn't able to warm up to any of the other characters very much and felt very unattached to everything in general. Well, I guess the only thing that I really cared about was if she ended up with Tsumabuki Satoshi's character Riichi. Other than that, this drama was a bore and I will never waste my time watching it again. I will, however, listen to the soundtrack (I bought this before seeing the drama) and the theme song, which are the only redeeming factors of this bland show.

Worth every minute. [Rating: 9/10]Probably one of the best dramas I've seen in quite a while. Watching this show is like taking "the other road" to experiencing life and love and all the drama and antics comes with it. The characters are also very three-dimensional, even the fickle Mino, who at first only uses people to fill a void in her love life, and all have their own sense of style and quirks. While Tsumabuki Satoshi's acting sometimes seemed a bit forced (even his smile!), Fukatsu Eri's role really stole the show. Once again, she shows how amazingly versatile her acting is. The dialogue is very simple, but it flows well with the story.

A-Not-so-good-show [Rating: 4/10]A 4 for this series is simply because it's simply because it's too slow and the plot is very very ordinatry. I bought this because of the cast that is in it especially Tsumabuki that acted in orange days. that show was just perfect for me(friendship, love, and the difficulty of life and the right attitude to overcome the problem). i was hoping that this story was as nice , but i realise that i just don like it when the girl is older than the boy! it makes the show not really that romantic, if you know what i mean! No offence to those who enjoy this show! One thing that deserves a compliment from this show is it's theme song by masha, it is a definite Must-Hear!

Slowly drawn in [Rating: 10/10]I started watching this show when I was in Japan this past summer. I was watching it just because it had the Monday slot after Engine, and at first I wasn't addicted per se. But as I continued, I started to love the interactions between the characters. There aren't any huge plot twists that you can't expect but it keeps you watching all the same. I thought Fukatsu Eri and Tsumabuki Satoshi were great, but my personal favorite couple was Fujiki Naohito and Hirosue Ryoko. Hirosue's so cute and Fujiki's kakkoii!

Really Slow [Rating: 6/10]This drama is not so perfect, the plot is too slow and the characters are too slow to express their real feelings. A man with an older woman looks like a trend in Japan drama long time ago (Long Vacation, kimi wa petto) and so it's the same thing with what happens in this drama. Yup it's happy ending.

What I like most is Ryoko and Fujiki as a couple, even though their scenes are not so many. Their story are better than the main couple.

Waltzing, slowly... [Rating: 9/10]I decided to watch this series because of Tsumabaki Satoshi and Hirosue Ryoko. They both gave splendid performances! I really enjoyed it, although... yeah. It was indeed a "slow dance." And despite how happy and graceful the ending it was, it felt sort of... half-hearted? I was a bit dissapointed somehow. I really enjoyed the series up to the last episode, but then it was just... over. Maybe the 1 year gap just didn't sit right with me. Ah well. I still loved it!

"SLOW" dance [Rating: 7/10]As the name implies, this series goes pretty slowly. Maybe I just have a preference for faster-moving series but this one just seemed more dragged out than it needed to be. With a pretty strong cast (Satoshi, Ryoko, Naohito, Koutaro), I had rather high expectations along the lines of Orange Days and unfortunately this fell somewhat short. Its not bad a dorama but could have been better.

Weekend Entertainment [Rating: 7/10]The initial episodes were abit too slooooooowwwww...but kinda get more interesting towards the end. The main message is.. NOT TO GIVE UP your dreams no matter what happens. Even you start late, doesn't matter. So long you carry on to do what you wanna to do.

!!WARNING!!This section may contain spoilers! Do not proceed if youdo not want to read about this drama's endings and plots!

1.

Comments bydonna8157 [Rating: 7/10]A drama focusing on two main characters: Serizawa Riich and Makino Isaki. The former a film grad from college working as a driver instructor and the latter a manager at a small boutique who falls into and out of relationships. Someone who "runs to men when things aren't going well in her job and runs to her job when things are going well with the men."

These two characters meet unexpectedly one day in a coffee shop and things begin to grow from there. The other two characters played by Fujiki Naohito and Hirosue Ryoko are their friends (one being Riichi's successful older brother who quits his job and the other being Fukatsu Eri's coworker who has many relationships with men). The cast of these four work very smoothly and quite well with the overall storyline. The pace was pretty slow hence the title, but it was more in the style of the older jdramas.

I recommend watching this show mainly for the great cast in it. Wonderful comeback for Hirosue Ryoko.

2.

Comments byshanghai_honey [Rating: 6/10]Slow Dance was a dorama I highly anticipated because of its huge and strong cast. After watching it though, I am feeling rather indifferent about this show. It is not particularly cute, moving or memorable. It is just an average story, with not too original or exciting developments in the story. Yes, it has similarities with Long Vacation, but Long Vacation is by far the superior drama with a lot of memorable scenes which moved me and I still remember today. It is true that the supporting characters of Slow Dance left something to be desired. In fact, Hirosue Ryoko plainly irrirated me with her flighty airy personality. She was hardly endearing and I couldn't care less if he won her 'prince' in the end. Fujiki Naohito's role was so boring and the only good character who made the show come 'alive' was Eri Fukatsu. Slow Dance is okay, but not good enough to be memorable. Although it had a good message the execution was pedestrian.

3.

Comments bySorata [Rating: 8/10]When i watched the begining of the first episode i recognized the words Isaki(Fukatsu Eri) said on her class from Slam Dunk(iLm a huge Slam Dunk fan) and i tought: "this is the exact same words Anzai-sensei said to Mitsui in middle school, the author must be a big Slam Dunk fan"; and then at the end of the episode she admits that she used the line from the manga Slam Dunk, i was really surprised by that.
Anyway i loved this dorama, but mostly because of the main plot, Isaki/Reach(Tsumabuki Satoshi) they were really a cute couple with good on-screen chemestry. But all the other characters were a bit useless and had almost no development.
If it wasnLt for the lack o good sub-plots i would give this a 9.
Bottom line itLs a great dorama but fans of Fujiki Naohito and Hirosue Ryoko are going to be desapointed.

4.

Comments byKusMoG_X [Rating: 9/10]Currently watching so I'll change my rating as I watch more accordingly. I'm giving it a '9' with my bias curve cuz I seriously do love it. Realistically in general perhaps it deserves an 8. Why? Because basically this type of story seems like another Long Vacation-clone, something I haven't got tired of yet, just like how I still like KimuTaku's "cool" charas. There's a Senna, a Ryoko, a Momo, a Minami... Those who watched it can guess who's who. It even brings back the will they or won't they young guyXolder woman love story. instead of piano, it's filmmaking. But the strong cast won me over. If it becomes TOO predictable and dare I say cheesy, I will drop the rating with ease. This really oughta be an 8, but I really did like the first episode! Eri is actually alooot better than Ryoko in this one.

5.

Comments byDeceased [Rating: 7/10]I would recommend this drama to everyone. It was quite a nice drama even though the initial episodes were abit too slooooooowwwww...

I guess by watching this show, more or less we have encounter what the lead actor (Serizawa Reach) had experienced.

In some part of our lives, we might give up some of our dreams/ambition because of external pressures/factors.

And once we lose that direction, we tends to lead a life aimlessly even though in our heart, we still yearn to accomplish our dreams/ambitions.

This drama simply just tell us... NOT TO GIVE UP your dreams no matter what happens. Even you start late, doesn't matter. So long you carry on to do what you wanna to do.

This drama will hit one your senses if you are still asleep and living life aimlessly.

6.

Comments bylalaland [Rating: 8/10]The premise of the drama as well as Satoshi and Eri's acting were superb! I especially liked the way some scenes are played out. However, the ending and the barely visible climax was really disappointing given how well the drama played throughout the first 10 episodes. Also, the chemistry between the two supporting characters was not convincing at all. Slow Dance falls short of Long Vacation in this aspect.

On similar note: There's this one line that appears in both doramas that is particularly caught my attention! In Long Vacation, there's a billboard on top of Sena's house that says: Don't Worry, Be Happy. In Slow Dance, there's a song that plays where the lyrics are "Don't Worry, Be Happy." coincidence?

7.

Comments byTu_triky [Rating: 7/10]As the name of the show implies the series is a metaphor about life, "a slow dance" amongst people interacting over the course of time. I really enjoyed Eri Fukatsu in this role and sincerely felt she carried the show despite the enormous star power brought by Satoshi Tsumabuki and Ryoko Hirosue. The side stories weren't very compelling in ths drama and indeed, the plot progressed rather slowly. A slightly average drama with very few surprises...it's more about seeing how exactly things turn out rather than trying to resolve any unforeseen outcomes. Again, Eri Fukatsu is the star of the show.

8.

Comments byaliceeatcow [Rating: 7/10]I really liked all the guys acting in this.. I loved Richi, Eisuke, and even Yashima in the dorama but the girls kind of ruined it for me. Well, not all of them. My favorite parts of the dorama were the subplots with the ex girlfriends.. it was more sad watching their relationships come to an end than watching the other ones form and the main characters being hurt. I never felt much sympathy for Mino or Isaki at all. )= But all in all, it was a relaxed watch and I enjoyed it.. slow pace, some solid acting, good stuff. Not the best, not nearly, but pretty good. (=

9.

Comments byHelena [Rating: 7/10]at first i thought, those 2 leading actor/ess r not that compatible coz e age gap is 2 wide, can c from their face, but becoz of e outstanding acting/performance from 2 leading actor/ess n also e chemistry between them have changed my mind, these great actor/ess shld do another drama, quarantee will be another great drama, while the supporting actor/ess are quite good 2, enjoy watching them at first but at e later end i found it quite boring coz the progress of the 2 supporting actor/ess is quite slow, but overall GOOD drama!

10.

Comments byOba-chan [Rating: 7/10]Slow but not Sure...hahhaaa. Tsumabuki, Fujiki, and Hiroko-chan did a great job. but Fukatsu Eri?? beuhhhh, i just Don't like her, maybe it's just my personal opinion, She was Really PLAIN!! Just because the script make Makino and serizawa to be a Koibito. One more Time, It's just my opinion, maybe because she looks like a woman that i know..heheee. My advice: If you like something Slow and predictable, Just Watch it!!
Soundtrack: Tokyo [Fukuyama Masaharu]: 10 (Great song in a plain Drama)

11.

Comments bySusan [Rating: 9/10]I decided to watch this series because of Tsumabaki Satoshi and Hirosue Ryoko. They both gave splendid performances! I really enjoyed it, although... yeah. It was indeed a "slow dance." And despite how happy and graceful the ending it was, it felt sort of... half-hearted? I was a bit dissapointed somehow. I really enjoyed the series up to the last episode, but then it was just... over. Maybe the 1 year gap just didn't sit right with me. Ah well. I still loved it!

12.

Comments byAunty Coco [Rating: 10/10]Watched the first episode & thought it was kind of slow... But slow & steady wins the race... A simple storyline but the simplicity is well-executed by the pool of hunks & babes... Especially Tsubabuki & Fukatsu - both portraying their first-class acting skills again without fail... Last but not least, the sound track is not only soothing, it also blends into the atmosphere of the drama perfectly... A must watch if you are into romantic comedy...

13.

Comments byatheon [Rating: 7/10]Sept 2005: I have high anticipations on this drama, this turns out to be the biggest dissapointment among summer dramas. It starts out very slow, most of the time just plain talking about hopes, views etc etc.....maybe bcos i didnt appreciate the script, i almost fell asleep. This explains the drastic drop of ratings. Great cast, nice theme song, story wise could be better. My friend likes it very much thou, guess im not that into romantic dramas.

14.

Comments byIniQx [Rating: 10/10]OMG! I simply love this drama! Another than drooling over dear Satoshi, I like this drama for its simple yet rich plot. It brought out the complications of love between a man & a woman & the subtle relationships between the characters in the drama. Taking things slowly will somehow let you see the beauty you've once missed & a second look at things which you once thought were right. Its OST is not to be missed as well.

15.

Comments byyourasthma [Rating: 9/10]i agree that the title is quite appropriate. this drama is underrated and underappreciated, which is a pity. this drama does not get full marks from me because i thought that the chemistry between the leads was slightly lacking. but all the characters are well fleshed out and the show leaves a nice feeling. it helps if you're a fan of eri fukatsu. there were a lot of scenes and lines i could relate to as well. recommended.

16.

Comments byrdoll [Rating: 10/10]Well, I already watched all of the episodes. Yeah, it a slow drama and ending was predictable. But the reason I'm giving it 10 is because I really l love it. I love it more than Long Vacation and Overtime. You have to watch until episode 6 before it pick up. Other than that, just enjoy the excellent acting from tsumabuki satoshi and Eri Fukatsu. But don't expect so much from the story line or you will be dissapointed.

17.

Comments bymoonchyld [Rating: 7/10]I'm continually amazed by Tsumabuki's ability to portray a "barrier-free" heart. When I watch him in roles like this (check out his movie Josee), I remember how Takuya was in Beautiful Life. There are only a handful of men who can pull it off; men who could see past age, disabilities and all other "differences," and just see the woman for who she is.. AND make it feel like he's truly attracted to the woman.

18.

Comments byakane_MYV [Rating: 8/10]Apart from the last episode, which was kinda rushed, the drama was really slow~~so you could follow every step the actors were behaving.
I like the drama...but it isn't the best one, some scenes were sorta boring....But I also was willing to watch the next episode. The acting was pretty cool....especially Tsumabuki Satoshi did a great job! But for me it isn't worth to watch it again....one time is okay^^

19.

Comments byxiong_here [Rating: 8/10]I watched this because Satoshi was in it and seeing his previous work in Orange Days I thought this would be just as good. And well, for the most part it is! I love their characters and they're so 'LIVELY'! However...I did think she was just a bit...*uhm....old. No offense. On tangent: the soundtrack is unbelieveably good. I down--acquired a copy of it and its one of the better soundtracks out there.

20.

Comments byIkematsuSosuke [Rating: 10/10]I really enjoyed this drama..I finished it in 2 days..I love the lead actress..she was hilarious..this drama was really real..I didn't think "this will never happen in real life" Reminds me about my past relationships..it's really good and true..Ryoko-san looked really good..also Eisuke's gf was hot too..and hanging out with them would be fun..drinking and eating!!! woohooo!

WATCH IT!!

21.

Comments byxxhiroxx [Rating: 9/10]An excellent drama. Complete with romance and comedy. The love relationships gets complicated early on in the first episode, but that's how such an interesting story was able to take place. The acting was done well, also. I do not doubt that Tsumabuki could become (if he isn't yet) the next Kimura. The drama also features an awesome soundtrack, paired with an equally good theme song.

22.

Comments byJeanxi [Rating: 5/10]A very well-chosen title for this drama since it was VERY SLOW. Although it started out okay, I quickly realized that this was going to be a bad drama. I still watched the whole thing anyways because of the theme song, "Tokyo", by Fukuyama Masaharu...I could drown in his voice (well, only for this song tho). In short, don't watch the drama, but buy the single ^^

23.

Comments byrikastar [Rating: 7/10]This was indeed a slow dance~ The pacing of the story is kinda slow but it felt comfortable and consistent, like it was slowly developing in terms of the storyline and the characters. I really liked the sets, the clothes, the music (the soundtrack's great btw) but there could be a bit more 'action' The conversations just kept coming and coming.

24.

Comments bystrawberrynkiwi [Rating: 8/10]I liked it. It was really slow in the beginning, but it gets better. The story was believeable. One of those you-can-relate-to & have-to-think-about dramas. Ahhh I am scared to grow up now. lol. The acting was actually really good, so real and so deep. I liked it, but I probably won't rewatch it. Satoshi is the cutest =)

25.

Comments byaramia [Rating: 10/10]I love this drama alot. Some may criticised the slow pace of the show, but isn't it obcious from the title? The songs featured were great and chill.
I guess the drama focused alot of the hesitation and vacillitating of the characters in their decisions. Still, I love Kanno Miho performance as the likeable Isaki Misato!

26.

Comments byuglymale [Rating: 7/10]This drama belongs to the "it could happen to you" genre, where the charms lies in seemingly real characters doing everyday things; vs. the exaggerated and unrealistic plots of other dramas. Thus, while it might not be as touching and satisfying as other dramas, I enjoyed watched nevertheless. Great soundtrack.

27.

Comments byzenith777 [Rating: 9/10]Although a bit steady and complex, but I like the character that performed in this dorama omoishiroi with funny nishiyama and Isaki-san really touched watched this dorama...feels that the time stop and there is only you in this world even just for a moment ...yappari unexplainable :->

28.

Comments byDragonSpirit164 [Rating: 7/10]Hmmm. Ryoko's comeback drama ^_^. OK to be honest, if not for Ryoko I prolly wouldn't have bothered with this one. It starts of alright, but then I find that the pace of the drama gets too slow. After a while, I lost interest in the main love story. I felt it was a bit too generic.

29.

Comments byjade_frost [Rating: 7/10]Slow Dance has a beautiful cast and wonderful soundtrack but is absolutely let down by a storyline that is a tad too cliche and predictable. The sub-plot pairing of Ryoko Hirosue and Naohito Fujiki seemed rather unnecessary. Keeping my fingers crossed for a dreamy, fuzzy ending.

30.

Comments byyume [Rating: 10/10]There isn't a single drama in which Fukatsu Eri isn't a goddess! Now that she's back into acting--and in the main spotlight--nothing can go wrong. This drama is a bit slow--hence Slow Dance--but every agonizingly cliffhanger episode is worth it. Great soundtrack, too.

Helenaat first i thought, those 2 leading actor/ess r not that compatible coz e age gap is 2 wide, can c from their face, but becoz of e outstanding acting/performance from 2 leading actor/ess n also e chemistry between them have changed my mind, these great actor/ess shld do another drama, quarantee will be another great drama, while the supporting actor/ess are quite good 2, enjoy watching them at first but at e later end i found it quite boring coz the progress of the 2 supporting actor/ess is quite slow, but overall GOOD drama!

2.

shinkujiI like how this drama start slow, and also develope each characters in the story line. By developing each character, from ep 6 and on, you won't want to stop until it is over.

3.

GoldenoozaruThe best drama that I have seen. It came close to my other favorite Batsu Kare. Well writen story, memorable characters and great acting. I love this drama.

4.

squallieI just loved the cast in this series. It was heart-warming and thrilling to watch. The romance is great, and I liked the olderwomanxyoungerman approach.

5.

aki_07I luv this dorama! Top rate cast top rate acting. The conversations are meaningful and lead actress' sentiments are similar to mine :-(

6.

dashxThoroughly touching, decpetively simple. Was caught in its waltzing pace before I knew it. kireii=)

7.

xirho67great drama.. i watched the whole thing in one day cause i couldn't stop! haha